What to do next after plumber is unable to stop dripping tub faucet?

I have a leaky shower and am looking for suggestions as to what to do next now that the plumber has left and the shower is still dripping.

I have a 21 year old Grohe shower and when I first noticed the drip, I contacted Grohe and they recommended replacing the pressure balance cartridge and the check valves.

Since I have no experience fixing this I called the licensed plumber I use and made an appointment. The plumber wasn’t familiar with Grohe, but he followed the instructions to change the cartridge and non return valves. However, when he turned the hot water valve back on, the tub faucet started dripping more water than it had before he had changed the cartridge. (There is no cold water dripping)

He rechecked the o rings, the connections etc, but nothing stopped the dripping. (He did show me how to turn off the hot water supply on the shower valve.)

He said it would probably be best to just replace the shower valve either by removing some of the tiles or by opening the bedroom wall directly behind the shower and swapping out the valve from there.

For now, the shower valve is turned off to stop the dripping and I’m just unscrewing the plate, and turning the hot water supply on and off so the family can shower—but this is not a long term solution.

Part of me is hoping that if I found a plumber or someone else who has experience with changing Grohe cartridges that they would see something that the 1st plumber missed and be able to stop the leak. (Perhaps that’s just a pipe dream.)

Can anyone recommend a plumber who has experience with Grohe or have any other suggestions on how to resolve this.

Thanks.

gtinsouthslope

in General Discussion 2 years and 11 months ago

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gtinsouthslope | 2 years and 11 months ago

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Thank you both for your feedback.

lkrshacmzcy | 2 years and 11 months ago

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The Plumber should have explained that once you go over 12 years for plumbing fixtures, you are gambling by making a repair; 21 years would be an absolute roulette spin. We always use the New Mast on a Sinking Ship logic to describe this kind of repair.
Replace the shower valve and call it day.

lkrshacmzcy | 2 years and 11 months ago

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The Plumber should have explained that once you go over 12 years for plumbing fixtures, you are gambling by making a repair; 21 years would be an absolute roulette spin. We always use the New Mast on a Sinking Ship logic to describe this kind of repair.
Replace the shower valve and call it day.

helen40

in General Discussion 2 years and 11 months ago

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Get a new shower body. And a new plumber.